Federal Government Orders Eviction of Illegal Settlers from 500 Bighas of Simara SEZ Land

Bara. The federal government has issued a directive to clear 500 bighas of government land in the Simara Special Economic Zone (SEZ) that has been encroached upon by individuals claiming to be landless squatters.

On Baisakh 9, the central office of the SEZ Authority, under the Ministry of Industry, wrote to the Jitpursimara Sub-Metropolitan City, requesting facilitation to clear the encroachment.

The letter states that unauthorized houses and huts have been constructed and farming is being conducted on Block 'A' in Ward No. 4, Blocks 'B' and 'C' in Ward No. 14, and Blocks 'D' and 'E' in Ward No. 15 of the sub-metropolis.

'Due to the disregard and defiance shown despite repeated requests by the Authority, problems have arisen in clearing the land,' the letter states. 'As it is essential to clear this encroachment, all concerned are informed through the respective ward offices to immediately remove the houses and huts built there, harvest the crops, and refrain from planting any further crops.'

The Simara SEZ is located in Wards 4, 12, 13, 14, and 15 of the Jitpursimara Sub-Metropolis. Except for the 343 bighas in Block 'A', all other government land in the five-block SEZ has been encroached upon.

The Ministry of Industry had previously written to the local municipality and administration multiple times to clear the encroachment. After receiving no response, the ministry has issued a fresh directive based on a previous Cabinet decision.

Copies of the letter sent by the Authority's central office have also been provided to the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies and the District Administration Office, Bara.

Following a 75 percent reduction in land rent by the government, there has been a surge in applications for operating industries in the Simara SEZ, leading to a shortage of land for new infrastructure, according to the SEZ.

Ram Prasad Lamichhane, Ward Chairman of Jitpursimara Sub-Metropolis Ward No. 15, stated that there are approximately 1,000 households on the SEZ's government land.

He clarified that individuals from various districts who arrived after 2051, claiming to be squatters and flood victims, have been occupying the SEZ land.

Ninety-three households of workers formerly employed by the Birgunj Sugar Mill have also been residing on the SEZ land. 'We will provide positive support to the government's decision,' said Ward Chairman Lamichhane. 'Our view is that the assets of all those living here should be investigated, and genuine landless squatters should be managed accordingly.'

Lamichhane estimates that out of the nearly 1,000 households, only about 100 are genuine landless squatters.

How did the encroachment happen?

The current Simara SEZ land was acquired in 2021 BS by the Birgunj Sugar Mill, which paid local residents compensation of 1,500 rupees per kattha.

While the sugar mill was in operation, it provided 6 katthas of land per family to 93 worker families for housing to facilitate sugarcane farming.

After the Birgunj Sugar Mill closed in 2059 BS, individuals arriving from districts such as Dhading, Sindhupalchok, and Ramechhap, claiming to be squatters and flood victims, began occupying the SEZ land.

In 2052 BS, the District Administration Office, Bara, managed 35 households of flood victims on the SEZ land. The number of people arriving from other districts increased sharply after 2059 BS, and permanent houses have been rapidly constructed on the government land since 2062/063 BS.

After the Birgunj Sugar Mill closed in 2059 BS, the government land was transferred to the Ministry of Industry in 2062 BS. The SEZ Authority is a body under the Ministry of Industry.

Approximately 300 plots under the former Piprasimara and Dumarwana VDCs are registered in the name of the Ministry of Industry. For several years, this government land has been subject to buying and selling, and new houses continue to be added.

Bharat Bhandari, a local of Jitpursimara-15, stated that some influential individuals have occupied the SEZ's government land under the guise of being squatters.

'Those who have property elsewhere should return to their ancestral lands, and the state should manage food, shelter, and clothing for the genuine landless,' said Bhandari. 'The SEZ land has been heavily misused. There are cases where a single individual occupies 20 bighas, and some have even deceived hill-dwelling squatters to sell the land.'

'The main responsibility to clear the encroachment lies with the SEZ': Mayor

Jitpursimara Sub-Metropolis Mayor Rajan Paudel has clarified that the primary responsibility for clearing the encroached government land of the SEZ lies with the SEZ Authority itself.

He stated that the municipality would provide positive support in clearing the encroachment. 'The SEZ must take the lead on this. The local administration and we will provide coordination and support,' he said. 'If there are landless squatters, the state must manage them.'

The District Administration Office, Bara, stated that it is studying the letter from the Ministry of Industry. Assistant Chief District Officer Chhabiraman Bhattarai indicated that the local administration would provide security under the leadership of the local level to clear the encroachment.

Meanwhile, Meghraj Shankar, Information Officer and Under Secretary of the SEZ Authority, said that because there is a shortage of land for establishing new industries, everyone has been informed through the local level to clear the encroached land. He added that the legal process for clearing the land has already begun.